Apparatus for cleaning or washing pyrites or other minerals.



No. 65|;822. Patented June l9, I900.

C. BURNETT &. H. T. NEWBIGIN.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING 0R WASHING PYRITES OR OTHER MINERALS.

(Application filed July 6, 1899.) (No Model.) I 5 Sheets-Sheet C) CD i S m:: 1i K m5 Norms warms co wow-mac WASNINGYDN, qa

No. 65,822. Patented lune I9, 1900. c. aununps u. T. mawmsm. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING 0R WASHINGTYRITES OR OTHER MINERALS.

(Application filed July 6, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 65|,a22; A Patented lune l9, 1900. c. BURNETT a H. T. NEWBI'GIN. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING UR WASHING PYRITES OR OTHER MINERALS.

(Application filed July 6, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

EA F M A 5 Patented lune l9, l900. C. BURNETT & H. T. NEWBIGJN, M

(Apnlication filed July 6, 1899.)

" 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 n4: uonms PETERS co. PNOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, n. c.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING 0R WASHING PYRI TE S OR OTHER MINERALS.

(No Model.)

N0. 65!,822. Patented lune I9, 1900.

- c. BURNETT &. H. T. mawmem. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING OR WASHING PYRITES OR OTHER MINERALS.

(Application filed July 6, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

. CUTHBERT BURNETT, OF THE GRANGE, AND HENRY THORNTON NEWVBIGIN,

OF NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING R WASHING PYRITES OR OTHER MINERALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 651,822, dated June 19, 1900.

Application filed July 6, 1899. Serial No. 722,991. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- fixed to a roller E The latter is connected Be it known that we, CUTHBERT BURNETT, to a float E by a cord E passing over the residing at The Grange, near Durham, and pulley O. The roller E is weighted. HENRY THORNTON N EWBIGIN, residing at The water-supply to the washing-machine 5 Chester Crescent,Newcastle-upon-Tyne,Engis drawn from the smaller compartment of land, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain the cistern, and it is evident that if the waand Ireland, have invented certain new and ter in the larger compartment of the cistern useful Improvements in Apparatus for Oleanis maintained at a higher level the counter ing or Washing Pyrites or other Minerals, of action of the float E and roller-valve E act 10 which the following is a specification. ing through the cord over the pulley 0, will The object of our invention is to provide cause the water in the smaller compartment machinery for cleaning or washing pyrites, to be kept at a uniform level, the sinking of coal, and other minerals in a more thorough the float opening the valve sufficiently to adand expeditious manner than heretofore. mitas much water from the large com'part- 15 In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is ment as is being drawn off from the small.

a side elevation, and Fig. 2 an end elevation, The washing-machine is setat an inclinaof awashing plant. Fig. 2 is a sectional detion suitable for the material to be washed tail view of a roller-valve in a water-supply and Works in such a manner that the water, cistern. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional eletogether with the lighter portions of the min- 2o vation, Fig. 4 an end view, and Fig. 5 a plan, eral treated, is delivered onto a screen of of the washing-machine proper. Fig. 6 is a gauze or other suitable separating medium detail side view of the belt; Fig. 7, adetail end at the lower end of the machine, so that the view ofsame; Fig.8, a vertical section through water is drained off and discharged down the a beltlink, and Fig. 9 a similar view showing spout M into the settling-tank K, while the 25 it taken apart. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top lighter portions of the mineral are delivered plan view of the trough-shaped frame and into the hopper F and the heavier portions the tail-plate, and Figs. 11 and 12 are crossare by the operation of the machine conveyed sections thereof on line X Y of Fig. 10 lookto the higher end of the same and delivered ing in opposite directions. into the hopper G. From the hoppers F and 3c The crushed pyrites or other mineral is de- G the cleaned materials may be delivered into livered by the elevator A into the hopper B, wagons at J and I, and the water from the from which it is supplied onto the upper part settling-tank K may be delivered back to the of the washing-machine, near the higher end large compartment of the cistern E, by means of same, in a steady and uniform manner by of a suit-able centrifugal or other valveless '85 35 means of some well-known mechanical fecdpump H, through the delivery-pipe L.

ing or sprinkling appliance, such as a jig- The power necessary to drive the moving ging-tray or worm or paddle fee-d. portion of the washing-machine may be ob- The lower or trough part 0 of the washingtained from any convenient shaft and pulmachine presently to be described is supplied ley N.

0 with water from a cistern E at a pressure Figs. 1 and 2 show one washing-machine suitable for the mineral to be cleaned. The only. We may, however, in some cases use drawings show a preferred automatic device several machines, placed side by side, and for maintaining the water-supply at a conmay use one for each grade of the crushed stant pressure. The cistern E (see Figs. 2 material, or we alter one machine so'as to 45 and 2 is divided into two compartments by suit each grade, for which purpose we may a partition E, between which compartments vary the inclination of the machine, the prescommunication may be made through grated sure of the water or the speed, and the fineopenings in the partition by a roller-valve E ness of the porous medium through which made of sheet-rubber or other suitable fiexithe water passes in the machine,as will be mo 50 ble sheet material, which at its upper end is explained hereinafter.

fixed to the partition E and at its lower end Referring now to Figs. 3 to 9, it will be and over the water-supply portion 0 in such.

a manner as to compel the water from C to pass up through the open portions of the belt C in the middle portion of its upper web. The endlessbeltC is supported upon the wheels or drums O, which are secured to suitable shafts working in bearings attached to the upper sides of the trough O. In order to take up any slack or wear, we make one pair of these hearings to be adjustable by screws in a well-known manner. At each end of the troughC and fixed between its sides we provide perforated or gauze screens P and Q, in order that the mineral and its refuse may in passing over them be drained of the water used in washing it. The used water passes away at the spout G into the pipe M and tank K, Fig. 1. In order to secure a free delivery of the lighter portions of the mineral which are carried down with the water onto the screen Q, we may provide a delivery-plate R, hinged at its lower end and resting upon C is preferably adjustable, and to this end has sliding motion between the sides 99 of the trough-shaped frame 0. To this end said ets 6, at the opposite upper edges of said sides,

- for securing the wall 12 of the water-supply lines in Fig. 3,) to slide under the wall 12 of duct, Fig. 10. The anglebrackets 6 are stopped at some distance from the top plate 12 toallow for the travel of the tail-plate G which latter is fitted to slide between the sides 9 9 of the trough-shaped frame O,'as above stated, and is supported and guided on and by angle-brackets 7, Figs. 10 and 11, the horizontal ortop part of said plate having recesses in its opposite sides, so as to clear the angle-brackets 6, which lie slightly above the guide and supporting-bracket 7, so as to enable the left end of the tail-plate 0 when adjusted to the position 5, (shown in dotted the water-supply duct 0. The right-hand curved portion of the tail-plate C is notched out at 0 Fig. 11, so as to rest and slide on angle-brackets t, Fig. 11, secured to the lower edges of the trough-shaped frame 0. The tail-plate O is adjusted by means of a hand wheel 3, having a groove in its hub fitted in a suitable seat in a cross-bar or in the vertical member of an an le-brace 10, Fig. 10, so as to revolve freely and at the same time be held against endwise motion. The hub of the opposite direction, and thereby redeposit upon it a portion of the mineral which has been carried downward by the water and allow it to be rewashed. In order to prevent any of the heavier mineral from being carried past the screen P, we provide a spray-pipe T, from which jets of water are sent against the underside of the belt 0 causing any mineral adhering to its upper surface to be Washed off.

Figs. 6,7, 8, and 9 show in detail the manner in which we prefer to make the belt,which in this form isof metallic construction and is formed of a number of sections of links connected together. Each link consists of three or more cross-bars 0, having end plates or flanges c, to which are attached sides ciwhich project in an upward and downward direction. The link has projecting gudgeons 0 Fig. 7, by means of which the links are attached together. The bars 0 we may make set at an angle, as shown, in order to more perfectly direct the flow of water in an upward direction. The sides 0 we make so that those of the adjacent links overlap. The gudgeons c we make part circular in section and with a portion cut away, so that when the gu d geons of two adjacent links are connected together by the sleeves 0 they may be allowed to move through an angle sufficient for them frame has secured to its sides 9 angle-brack-.

to pass around the wheels G On the top surface of the link, as described above, we place one or more thicknesses of wire-gauze or other porous material U, which is held in place by the grid 0 as shown most clearly in form dams for preventing any of'the heavier portion of the mineral from being washed downward. liVhere two thicknesses of material are used, wemake the upper one coarser and stronger in order to protect the lower one from wear.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The machine being set at a suitable angle for the material to be washed, the waterafter coming up through the gauze U of the belt 0 frointhe water-supply portion 0 flows between the upturned sides 0 of the belt toward the screen Q, the under side being closed between these points by the tail-plate 0 over which the belt slides. The belt 0 is caused to travel in the opposite direction to the flow of the water. The crushed material is supplied from the hopper B onto the upper surface of the belt, near the higher end of same.

tions of the mineral and carries them downward over the delivery-plate R onto the screen Q, while the heavier portions remain on the belt and are delivered onto the screen P.

We have now particularly described one method by which we may carry out our invention. It is evident, however, that it may also be carried out in several other waysas, for example, the sides may be fixed and the horizontal surface of the belt only moved, and instead of a metallic grid-like belt covered with porous material a porous belt, of canvas or other non-metallic material, maybe used. It is also to be noticed that with minerals in which the refuse is the lighter, such as in the case of pyrites, the refuse will be delivered at the lower end of the belt and the pyrites at the higher, while in the case of minerals in which the refuse is the heavier, such as coal, the refuse will be delivered at the higher end and the coal at the lower.

We claim 1. In a mineral-washing apparatus an endless inclined metallic traveling belt, metallic prismatic grid-bars inclined downwardly in the direction of travel, a second series of grids on the bases of said prismatic grids carrying theload, a screen between said series of grids, upstanding overlapping side plates at the ends of said grids to form a traveling trough and means for projecting water up through the belt contrary to the direction of travel, substantially as set forth.

2. In a m ineral-washing apparatus the combination of an endless inclined traveling belt of an open .form between upstanding sides, a water-supply device arranged between the two webs of the belt for the purpose stated, and the automatic means for regulating the action of the water, said means consisting of a water-tank divided in two compartments, openings in the partition-wall, a roller -valve on one side of said wall for covering and uncovering said openings, and a float connected to said valve for automatically regulating the water-level on the other side of said wall substantially as set forth.

3. In a mineral-washing apparatus an endless inclined traveling belt of grid-bars with end gudgeons and with flanges and with upstanding sides attached to the latter, said grid-bars and gudgeons being made in two parts, so that the lastbar of one belt-link and the first bar of the next belt-link form a complete grid-bar with a radial joint between them, a porous fabric on outer side of the belt, and a water-supply device arranged between the two webs of the belt and adapted to project the water up through the grids of the upper web in the middle and higher portion of same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a mineral washing apparatus the combination of an endless inclined traveling belt, of an open form between upstanding sides, the water-supply device for projecting the water up through the upper web in the middle and higher portion of same, an adjustable tail-plate below the upper web at the lower end of same, for allowing part of the water to pass through the belt again but in the opposite direction and thereby deposit upon it a portlon of the mineral which had been carried down by the water and allow it to be rewashed, a spray-pipe for washing off any mineral adhering tothe upper surface of the belt, and means for regulating the action of the water substantially as set forth.

5. In a mineralwashing apparatus, an endless belt formed of links, each link provided with side plates longer than said link, prismatic bars arranged to form slots narrower at the top than at the bottom and bearing collars to connect separate links, and means for projecting water up through said belt substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a mineral-washing apparatus an endless inclined belt of an open form between outstanding sides, in combination with a mineral-supply device arranged between the two webs of the belt and adapted to project the water up through the middle and higher portion of the upper web, a trough wherein the belt works with outlet-spout thereon for the used water, a perforated screen for the outlet of the lighter portions of the mineral at the same end, a perforated screen at the other end for the outlet of the heavier portions of the mineral, receptacles for the used water, for the lighter portions and for the heavier portions of the mineral, a tank for water-delivery to the aforesaid water-supply device, and a pump for returning the used water to the tank, substantially as set forth. In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we have signed our names in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

CUTHBERT BURNETT. HENRY THORNTON NEWBIGIN.

Witnesses to the signature of Outhbert Burnett:

GEO. WM. Fox, GEO. DAVISON. Witnesses to the signature of Henry Thornton Newbigin:

A. B. GOLDSBRQUGH, HOWARD WILsoN. 

